U.S. patent application number 14/686990 was filed with the patent office on 2015-10-22 for image forming apparatus and sheet conveying device.
This patent application is currently assigned to KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.. Invention is credited to Shuji OSAKI.
Application Number | 20150298931 14/686990 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54321378 |
Filed Date | 2015-10-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150298931 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
OSAKI; Shuji |
October 22, 2015 |
IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND SHEET CONVEYING DEVICE
Abstract
An image forming apparatus is configured to include an apparatus
main body, further including an internal sheet discharge portion
for ejection of a sheet having an image formed thereon; and a relay
conveying unit, positioned in the internal sheet discharge portion,
and configured to convey the sheet to a post-processing device. The
relay conveying unit has: a body portion; a cover member positioned
on a side surface of the body portion; a detection switch; and a
hook positioned on the cover member. The body portion and cover
member form a sheet conveying path, the cover member being turnable
in vertical directions into opening and closing states, to open and
form the sheet conveying path, respectively, as detected by the
detection switch. The hook prevents the cover member from being
turned from the closing state and switches the detection switch
into an on state.
Inventors: |
OSAKI; Shuji; (Osaka,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc. |
Osaka |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS
INC.
Osaka
JP
|
Family ID: |
54321378 |
Appl. No.: |
14/686990 |
Filed: |
April 15, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/265.01 ;
271/176 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03G 2215/00544
20130101; B65H 7/02 20130101; B65H 2553/25 20130101; B65H 2402/64
20130101; B65H 2402/45 20130101; G03G 21/1633 20130101; B65H
2601/11 20130101; G03G 21/1695 20130101; B65H 5/062 20130101; B65H
43/00 20130101; B65H 2511/417 20130101; G03G 2215/00421 20130101;
B65H 2511/51 20130101; G03G 15/6552 20130101; B65H 2801/06
20130101; B65H 2404/611 20130101; B65H 2402/31 20130101; B65H
2404/513 20130101; B65H 29/60 20130101; B65H 2511/51 20130101; B65H
29/125 20130101; B65H 29/52 20130101; B65H 2511/417 20130101; G03G
21/1638 20130101; B65H 31/02 20130101; B65H 2220/03 20130101; B65H
2220/01 20130101; B65H 2220/11 20130101; B65H 2301/4212 20130101;
B65H 2402/441 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65H 29/38 20060101
B65H029/38; B65H 9/00 20060101 B65H009/00; B65H 7/02 20060101
B65H007/02; B65H 29/70 20060101 B65H029/70; B65H 43/00 20060101
B65H043/00; B65H 29/58 20060101 B65H029/58; B65H 1/26 20060101
B65H001/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 16, 2014 |
JP |
2014-084279 |
Claims
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an apparatus main body
provided with an internal sheet discharge portion in which a sheet
on which image is formed is ejected; and a relay conveying unit
arranged in the internal sheet discharge portion and configured to
convey the sheet to a post-processing device, wherein the relay
conveying unit includes: a body portion; a cover member configured
to form a sheet conveying path together with the body portion and
provided on a side surface of the body portion so as to be turnable
in vertical directions around a hinge shaft into an opening state
where the sheet conveying path is opened and a closing state where
the sheet conveying path is formed; a detection switch configured
to detect the opening/closing state of the cover member by being
switched between an on state and an off state; and a hook provided
on the cover member and configured to engage with the body portion
to prevent the cover member from being turned from the closing
state and to switch the detection switch into the on state.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
hook projects downward from the cover member, the detection switch
includes: a switch body configured to be switched between the on
state and the off state; a switching piece configured to project or
retract with respect to the switching part; and a turnable lever
member interposed between the hook and the switching piece, wherein
the lever member has: a pressure receiving piece provided to oppose
to the hook; and a pressing piece provided to oppose to the
switching piece, and when the cover member is turned downward into
the closing state, the hook presses the pressure receiving piece to
turn the lever member such that the pressing piece presses the
switching piece to switch the switch body into the on state, and
when the cover member is turned upward into the opening state, the
hook is separated away from the pressure receiving piece to turn
the lever member such that the pressing of the pressing piece
against the switching piece is released to switch the switch body
into the off state.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
switching piece is configured to project or retract in a horizontal
direction.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
cover member is provided with an opening/closing operation grip
configured to turn in the vertical directions around a supporting
shaft parallel to the hinge shaft of the cover member, the hook is
provided on the supporting shaft and configured to turn in the
vertical directions around the supporting shaft together with the
opening/closing operation grip, and when the opening/closing
operation grip is turned upward, the engagement of the hook with
the body portion is released and the pressing of the pressing piece
against the switching piece is released.
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the
body portion is formed with an opening through which the hook is
inserted, the hook has a base portion supported to the supporting
shaft and a claw portion projecting from an tip end of the base
portion so as to come into contact with an edge of the opening when
the cover member is turned downward into the closing state, in
which the claw portion has an upper surface and an under surface
including an inclined surface, and when the cover member is turned
downward, the under surface of the claw portion comes in contact
with the edge of the opening and slides on the edge to turn the
hook upward around the supporting shaft, after the claw portion
passes through the opening, the under surface of the claw portion
is separated from the edge of the opening to turn the hook downward
around the supporting shaft and then the upper surface of the claw
portion engages with the edge of the opening.
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, the
pressure receiving piece of the lever member is pressed with the
under surface of the claw portion of the hook to switch the switch
body into the on state.
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, the
opening is closed with the pressure receiving piece of the lever
member from the below when the cover member is turned into the
opening state.
8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, the
opening is formed on an upper surface of the body portion.
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the
lever member is provided to turn in the vertical directions around
a supporting shaft parallel to the supporting shaft of the
hook.
10. A sheet conveying device comprising: a body portion; a cover
member configured to form a sheet conveying path together with the
body portion and provided on a side surface of the body portion so
as to be turnable in vertical directions around a hinge shaft into
an opening state where the sheet conveying path is opened and a
closing state where the sheet conveying path is formed; a detection
switch configured to detect the opening/closing state of the cover
member by being switched between an on state and an off state; and
a hook provided on the cover member and configured to engage with
the body portion to prevent the cover member from being turned from
the closing state and to switch the detection switch into the on
state.
Description
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0001] This application is based on and claims the benefit of
priority from Japanese Patent application No. 2014-084279 filed on
Apr. 16, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a sheet conveying device,
such as a relay conveying unit which conveys a sheet on which image
is formed to a post-processing device, and an image forming
apparatus which includes this sheet conveying device.
[0003] There is a post-processing device which performs
post-processing, such as staple processing and hole punching
processing, on a sheet on which image is formed by an image forming
apparatus, such as a copy machine or a multifunction peripheral.
Meanwhile, an image forming apparatus provided with an internal
sheet discharge portion in which a sheet is ejected is spreading to
meet a demand for miniaturization.
[0004] When a post-processing device is jointed to an image forming
apparatus having an internal sheet discharge portion, a relay
conveying unit is required to form a conveying path for a sheet
traveling from the image forming apparatus to the post-processing
device. The relay conveying unit is generally provided with an
openable cover to perform processing for jammed sheet.
[0005] The relay conveying unit is arranged in the internal sheet
discharge portion of the image forming apparatus, and, if the
height of the image forming apparatus is lowered for
miniaturization, the height of the internal sheet discharge portion
also lowers. Hence, it is difficult to secure a sufficient
opening/closing angle of the cover in the relay conveying unit
arranged in the internal sheet discharge portion, and therefore a
jammed sheet needs to be processed in a narrow space.
[0006] Hence, there is an image forming apparatus including a relay
processing unit in which a cover member is configured to turn in
parallel by a link mechanism to open a conveying path with an
uniform height over the entire area of the conveying path.
[0007] Generally, on a lower surface of the cover of the relay
conveying unit, a plurality of projections, such as a positioning
boss, a pressing projection which presses a switch of an
opening/closing detector, and a hook projection which keeps the
cover member in the closing state, is provided. A plurality of
these projections may obstruct an operation for processing jammed
sheet in a narrow space, and therefore the number of projections is
preferably small as much as possible. However, this problem cannot
be solved even if the cover member can be opened and closed in
parallel as in the above-described image forming apparatus.
SUMMARY
[0008] In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure,
an image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body and a
relay conveying unit. The apparatus main body is provided with an
internal sheet discharge portion in which a sheet on which image is
formed is ejected. The relay conveying unit is arranged in the
internal sheet discharge portion and configured to convey the sheet
to a post-processing device. The relay conveying unit has: a body
portion; a cover member; a detection switch; and a hook. The cover
member is configured to form a sheet conveying path together with
the body portion and provided on a side surface of the body portion
so as to be turnable in vertical directions around a hinge shaft
into an opening state where the sheet conveying path is opened and
a closing state where the sheet conveying path is formed. The
detection switch is configured to detect the opening/closing state
of the cover member by being switched between an on state and an
off state. The hook is provided on the cover member and configured
to engage with the body portion to prevent the cover member from
being turned from the closing state and to switch the detection
switch into the on state.
[0009] In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure,
the relay conveying unit includes: a body portion; a cover member;
a detection switch; and a hook. The cover member is configured to
form a sheet conveying path together with the body portion and
provided on a side surface of the body portion so as to be turnable
in vertical directions around a hinge shaft into an opening state
where the sheet conveying path is opened and a closing state where
the sheet conveying path is formed. The detection switch is
configured to detect the opening/closing state of the cover member
by being switched between an on state and an off state. The hook is
provided on the cover member and configured to engage with the body
portion to prevent the cover member from being turned from the
closing state and to switch the detection switch into the on
state.
[0010] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the
present disclosure will become more apparent from the following
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure
is shown by way of illustrative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a configuration
of an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a relay conveying unit of the image
forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a front view of the relay conveying unit of the
image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present
disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a front view showing the relay conveying unit with
a cover member opened, in the image forming apparatus according to
one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the relay conveying unit
of the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a lateral sectional view showing the relay
conveying unit with the cover member in the opening state, in the
image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective view seen from a front side showing
the relay conveying unit with the cover member in the opening
state, in the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing an opening/closing
operation grip of the cover member of the relay conveying unit, in
the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 9A is a lateral view showing a detecting operation of a
detection switch in a state where the cover member is turned into
the closing state, in the relay conveying unit in the image forming
apparatus according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 9B is a lateral view showing the detecting operation of
the detection switch in a state where the cover member is turned
into the opening state, in the relay conveying unit in the image
forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] Hereinafter, with reference to figures, an image forming
apparatus according to the present disclosure be described.
[0022] First, with reference to FIG. 1, an entire structure of an
image forming apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a sectional
view schematically showing an internal structure of the printer
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Hereinafter,
a front side in FIG. 1 indicates a front side of the image forming
apparatus 1 and left and right directions are described on the
basis of a direction when the image forming apparatus 1 is viewed
from the front side.
[0023] The image forming apparatus 1 includes an apparatus main
body 2 which performs image forming processing and a relay
conveying unit 4 (sheet conveying device) conveying a sheet on
which image is formed to a post-processing device 3.
[0024] The apparatus main body 2 has a box-like shaped housing 6.
At an upper end of the housing 6, an image reading device 7 is
arranged, and, under the image reading device 7, an internal sheet
discharge portion 8 with opened front and left faces is formed.
[0025] On the left side of the internal sheet discharge portion 8,
a post-processing device 3 is attached. The post-processing device
3 may include a hole punching device performing hole punching for
sheet, a staple processing device performing binding sheets and the
others. Explanation of the hole punching device and the staple
processing device is omitted.
[0026] Inside the housing 6, three sheet feeding cassettes 11
storing sheets (not shown) are arranged in the upward and downward
directions at the lower space. Above the sheet feeding cassettes
11, an image forming part 12 is provided. In the image forming part
12, a photosensitive drum 13 as an image carrier is rotatably
provided. Around the photosensitive drum 13, a charging device 14,
a development device 15, a transfer roller 16 and a cleaning device
17 are located in order along a rotating direction of the
photosensitive drum 13. Above the image forming part 12, a toner
container 18 connected to the development device 15 is installed
and, on the right side of the toner container 18, an exposure
device 19 consisting of laser scanning unit (LSU) is provided.
[0027] Inside the housing 6, a conveying path 21 extending from the
sheet feeding cassettes 11 toward the internal sheet discharge
portion 8 is formed. Along the conveying path 21, a sheet feeder 22
corresponding each sheet feeding cassette 11, a transferring part
23 formed between the photosensitive drum 13 and the transfer
roller 16, a fixing device 24 and a sheet ejecting part 25 located
on the right side of the internal sheet discharge portion 8 are
provided in order from an upstream side of the sheet conveying path
21. The sheet ejecting part 25 has a normal processed sheet
ejection port 25a and a sheet to be post-processed ejection port
25b. The sheet to be post-processed ejection port 25b is located
under the normal processed sheet ejection port 25a.
[0028] Next, an image forming operation of the image forming
apparatus 1 having the above structure will be described.
[0029] When the power is supplied to the image forming apparatus 1,
initial determination, such as temperature determination of the
fixing device 24, is carried out. Subsequently, in the image
forming apparatus 1, when a printing start is directed, image
forming operation is carried out as follows.
[0030] First, the surface of the photosensitive drum 13 is
electric-charged by the charging device 14. Then, photographic
exposure corresponding to image data on the photosensitive drum 13
is carried out by a laser light (refer to a two-dot chain line p in
FIG. 1) from the exposure device 19, thereby forming an
electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive
drum 13. Subsequently, the development device 15 develops the
electrostatic latent image to a toner image by a toner (a
developer) supplied from the toner container 18.
[0031] On the other hand, the sheet fed from suitable sheet feeding
cassette 11 by the sheet feeder 22 is conveyed to the transferring
part 23 along the sheet conveying path 21 in a suitable timing for
the above-mentioned image forming operation, and then, the toner
image on the photosensitive drum 13 is transferred onto the
recording sheet in the transferring part 23. The recording sheet
with the transferred toner image is conveyed to a downstream side
in the conveying path 21 and goes into the fixing device 24, and
then, the toner image is fixed on the recording sheet in the fixing
device 24. The recording sheet with the fixed toner image is
ejected from the sheet ejection port 25a or 25b. The toner remained
on the photosensitive drum 13 is collected by the cleaning device
17.
[0032] Next, the relay conveying unit 4 will be described with
reference to FIGS. 2 to 9. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the relay
conveying unit, FIG. 3 is a front view of the relay conveying unit,
FIG. 4 is a front view showing the relay conveying unit with the
conveying path opened by turning the cover, FIG. 5 is a side
sectional view of the relay conveying unit, FIG. 6 is a side
sectional view showing the relay conveying unit with the conveying
path opened by turning the cover, FIG. 7 is a perspective view
showing the relay conveying unit with the cover opened by turning
the cover seen from the front side and, FIG. 8 is a side view
showing an opening/closing operation grip of the cover, FIG. 9A is
a side view showing a detecting operation of a detection switch in
a state where the conveying path is closed, and FIG. 9B is a side
view showing the detecting operation of the detection switch in a
state where the conveying path is opened.
[0033] The relay conveying unit 4 is formed in an approximately
flat rectangular parallelepiped shape and is arranged in the
internal sheet discharge portion 8 of the apparatus main body 2
(shown in FIG. 1). The relay conveying unit 4 includes a body
portion 31, a cover member 32 which forms a sheet conveying path 27
together with the body portion 31 and is configured to open and
close the conveying path 27, and a detection switch 33 which is
positioned inside the body portion 31 and detects an
opening/closing state of the cover member 32.
[0034] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the body portion 31 has an
approximately rectangular parallelepiped box-like shape. On an
upper surface of the body portion 31, a shallow recessed part 31a
is formed along a width direction orthogonal to a conveying
direction. At a right side base part 31b on a right side of the
recessed part 31a, a reception port (not shown) which receives a
sheet ejected from the sheet to be post-processed ejection port 25b
of the apparatus main body 2 is formed along the width direction,
and, at a left side base part 31c on a left side of the recessed
part 31a, a transfer port (not shown) which transfers the sheet to
the post-processing device 3 is formed along the width
direction.
[0035] A plurality of ribs (not shown) is formed along the
conveying direction at predetermined intervals on a bottom surface
of the recessed part 31a. Further, on an upper surface of the right
side base part 31b, a plurality of ribs 35 is formed along the
conveying direction at predetermined intervals. Furthermore, a
plurality of rollers 36 which rotates in the conveying direction is
supported on the upper surfaces of the recessed part 31a, the right
side base part 31b and the left side base part 31c. At a rear edge
of the recessed part 31a, bearing parts 38 each having an axial
hole extending in a direction parallel to the conveying direction
are formed.
[0036] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, on a nearly center of the bottom
surface of the recessed part 31a in the conveying direction, a
conveying roller 41 is supported rotatably in the conveying
direction. The conveying roller 41 has a rotating shaft 41a
extending in the forward and backward directions, and two roller
main body parts 41b attached to a nearly center of the rotating
shaft 41a with a predetermined interval spaced each other. A rear
end portion of the rotating shaft 41a projects backwardly from the
recessed part 31a, and a gear 42 is fixed to the rear end
portion.
[0037] At a front left corner and a front right corner of the
recessed part 31a, a rectangular opening 43 is formed respectively.
Further, as shown in FIG. 7, on a left side of the opening 43
formed at the front left corner of the recessed part 31a, a
circular depression 44 is formed. Furthermore, inside the body
portion 31, a bearing part 45 parallel to the conveying direction
is formed on the back side of the opening 43.
[0038] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a hollow housing 46 is provided
along a rear surface of the body portion 31. In the housing 46, a
gear train meshing with a gear 42 fixed to the rear end portion of
the rotating shaft 41a of the conveying roller 41, a motor and the
like are housed. The conveying roller 41 is rotated via the gear
train and the gear 42 when the motor rotates.
[0039] The cover member 32 is a flat-plate like member of the
substantially same rectangular planar shape of the recessed part
31a of the body portion 31, and is supported by the recessed part
31a of the body portion 31 so as to be turnably around the rear
side as a support point.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 2, at a rear edge of the cover member 32,
hinge shafts 51 parallel to the conveying direction are provided.
The hinge shafts 51 are axially supported by the bearing parts 38
formed at the rear edge of the recessed part 31a of the body
portion 31. The cover member 32 turns around the hinge shafts 51 as
support points. When the cover member 32 turns toward the recessed
part 31a into the closing state, the sheet conveying path 27
between the upper surface of the recessed part 31a and a lower
surface of the cover member 32 is formed and the upper surface
comes to the same height as the upper surfaces of the left side
base part 31c and the right side base 31b of the body portion 31.
When the cover member 32 turns toward a side spaced away from the
recessed part 31a into the opening state, the sheet conveying path
27 is opened and, therefore, it becomes possible to process jammed
sheet.
[0041] On an upper surface of the cover member 32, a plurality of
ribs 53 is formed along the conveying direction at predetermined
intervals to form an ejected sheet tray together with the upper
surface of the right side base part 31b of the body portion 31. To
the ejected sheet tray, a sheet ejected from the normal processed
sheet ejecting port 25a of the apparatus main body 2 is received.
As shown in FIG. 4, on the lower surface of the cover member 32, a
plurality of ribs 54 is also formed along the conveying direction
at predetermined intervals.
[0042] Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, on the lower surface of
the cover member 32, a conveying roller 55 is rotatably supported
in the conveying direction at a nearly center in the conveying
direction. The conveying roller 55 includes a rotating shaft 55a
extending in a width direction and two roller main body parts 55b
attached to the rotating shaft 55a with a predetermined interval
spaced in the nearly center. The two roller main body parts 55b are
positioned to meet the roller main body parts 41b of the conveying
roller 41 supported by the body portion 31.
[0043] Along a front edge of the cover member 32, a hollow edge
part 57 of an approximately rectangular parallelepiped flat shape
is formed. As shown in FIG. 7 and others, at a nearly center of the
hollow edge part 57 in the conveying direction, a rectangular
cutout part 57a formed by partially cutting out an upper portion
and a front portion of the hollow edge part 57 is formed. In this
cutout part 57a, an opening/closing operation grip 59 of the cover
member 32 is attached. As shown in FIG. 8, the opening/closing
operation grip 59 has a shape meeting a shape of the cutout part
57a. On an inner surface of the opening/closing operation grip 59,
a supporting shaft 61 parallel to the hinge shafts 51 of the cover
member 32 is fixed. The supporting shaft 61 is rotatably supported
in the hollow edge part 57, and the opening/closing operation grip
59 turns around the supporting shaft 61 between an opening position
(as shown in a dashed-two dotted line in FIG. 8) spaced apart from
the cutout part 57a and a closing position (as shown in a solid
line in FIG. 8) housed in the cutout part 57a. The supporting shaft
61 is biased to rotate in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 8 by
a helical torsion coil spring or the like (not shown) and thereby
to biases the opening/closing operation grip 59 toward the closing
position.
[0044] At left and right end portions of the supporting shaft 61,
hooks 63 are formed respectively, as shown in FIG. 7. As shown in
FIG. 8, the hook 63 is formed in a claw shape having a base portion
64 projecting downward at a nearly right angle from a lower surface
of the hollow part 57 at the closing position of the
opening/closing grip 59 and a claw portion 65 extending rearward
from a tip end of the base portion 64. The claw portion 65 has a
lower surface 65a, including an inclined surface 65b extending
rearward in a diagonally upper direction, and an upper surface 65c.
The respective hooks 63 are positioned to meet the openings 43 (as
shown in FIG. 7) formed at the front left corner and the front
right corner of the recessed part 31a of the body portion 31 when
the cover member 32 is turned into the closing state.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 7, on the lower surface of the cover member
32, a boss 67 projecting downward is formed on a left side of the
left hook 63. The boss 67 is positioned to meet the depression 44
formed at the front left corner of the recessed part 31a of the
body portion 31 when the cover member 32 is turned into the closing
state.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 9, the detection switch 33 includes a
rectangular parallelepiped shaped switch body 69 which is switched
between an on state and an off state, a switching piece 70 provided
so as to project or retract in a horizontal direction (forward and
backward directions) toward the switch body 69, and a lever member
71 interposed between the hook 63 and the switching piece 70 and
supported turnably in the vertical (upward and downward)
directions. The switch body 69 is arranged inside the body portion
31 on a back side of the opening 43 formed at the front left corner
of the recessed part 31a with the switching piece 70 on the front
side.
[0047] The lever member 71 is supported by the bearing part 45
formed in parallel to the supporting shaft 61 of the hooks 63 on a
back side of the opening 43 so as to be turnable in the upward and
downward directions, and has a rotating shaft part 72 supported by
the bearing part 45, a pressure receiving piece 73 extending
forward beyond the opening 43 from the rotating shaft part 72 to
oppose to the hook 63, a pressing piece 74 branched downward from
the pressure receiving piece 73 at a position close to the rotating
shaft part 72 to oppose to the front of the switching piece 70 of
the detection switch 33, and a flat support piece 75 provided in a
surrounding of a branching part of the rotating shaft part 72, the
pressure receiving piece 73 and the pressing piece 74. The lever
member 71 is biased to be turned in the clockwise direction in FIG.
9 around the rotating shaft part 72 by a helical torsion coil
spring or the like (not shown).
[0048] An operation of turning the cover member 32 in the relay
conveying unit 4 having the above-described configuration will be
described with reference to FIG. 9 and others.
[0049] When a post-processing is not performed and a sheet is
normally ejected, in a state where the cover member 32 is turned
into the closing state, a sheet is ejected from the normal
processed sheet ejecting port 25a of the apparatus main body 2 onto
the upper surface of the right side base part 31b of the body
portion 31 of the relay conveying unit 4 and onto the upper surface
of the cover member 32. When a post-processing is performed, a
sheet is ejected from the sheet to be post-processed ejecting port
25b and enters the conveying path 27 between the lower surface of
the cover member 32 and the bottom surface of the recessed part 31a
of the body portion 31 from the sheet reception port formed at the
right side base part 31b of the relay conveying unit 4. Then, the
sheet is conveyed by the conveying rollers 41 and 55 to the sheet
transfer port formed at the left side base part 31c, and is fed to
the post-processing device 3. Subsequently, the sheet is subjected
to predetermined post-processing by the post-processing device 3
and then ejected.
[0050] Further, in a state where the cover member 32 is turned into
the closing state, as shown in FIG. 9A, the hooks 63 provided in
the cover member 32 are inserted through the openings 43 formed at
the front left corner and the front right corner of the recessed
part 31a of the body portion 31, respectively, and the claw
portions 65 engage with the rear edges 43a of the openings 43 to
prevent from the cover member 32 from the closing state.
Furthermore, the lower surface of the claw portion 65 of the hook
63 presses the pressure receiving piece 73 of the lever member 71
to keep the pressing piece 70 pressing the switching piece 70 of
the detection switch 33 against a biasing force of the helical
torsion coil spring. Thus, the detection switch 33 is switched into
the on state, and detects a state where the cover member 32 is
turned into the closing state.
[0051] Thus, in a state where the cover member 32 is turned into
the closing state, when a sheet is jammed at the conveying path 27,
in order to process for removing the jammed sheet, the cover member
32 is turned in a direction to open the conveying path 27 of the
body portion 31 while turning the opening/closing operation grip 59
of the cover member 32 upward (as shown in the dashed-two dotted
line in FIG. 8). Then, the hooks 63 turn around the supporting
shaft 61 together with the opening/closing operation grip 59 and
are separated away from the rear edges 43a of the openings 43 to
release the engagement of the cover member 32 with the main body
part 31. This makes it possible to turn the cover member 32 around
the hinge shafts 51.
[0052] Hence, when the cover member 32 is turned while turning the
opening/closing operation grip 59 upward as described above, as
shown in FIG. 9B, the hook 63 is spaced away from the pressure
receiving piece 73 of the lever member 71 through the opening 43 of
the body portion 31. Thus, the lever member 71 is biased in the
clockwise direction in FIG. 9B by the helical torsion coil spring,
and the opening 43 of the body portion 31 is closed from the below
with the pressure receiving piece 73.
[0053] Further, in this case, the pressing piece 74 is spaced away
from the switching piece 70 of the detection switch 33 forward.
Thus, since the pressing of the lever member 71 against the
switching piece 70 is released, the switching piece 70 moves
forward from the switch body 69. Then, the detection switch 33 is
switched into the off state and detects a state where the cover
member 32 is turned into the opening state. In addition, when the
opening/closing operation grip 59 is released after the cover
member 32 is turned, the opening/closing operation grip 59 turns by
being biased by the helical torsion coil spring, and returns into
the original position.
[0054] In a state where the cover member 32 is turned into the
opening state described above, after the processing for removing
the jammed sheet is finished, when the cover member 32 is turned
downward into the closing state, the hook 63 of the cover member 32
presses the pressure receiving piece 73 of the lever member 71
downward to turn the lever member 71 in the counterclockwise
direction in FIG. 9B around the rotating shaft part 72 against the
biasing force of the helical torsion coil spring. In particular, as
shown in FIG. 8, the inclined surfaces 65b of the claw portions 65
of the hooks 63 come into contact with the rear edges 43a of the
openings 43 of the body portion 31 and are pressed against the rear
edges 43a while sliding on the rear edges 43a. Then, the hooks 63
begin to turn upward around the supporting shaft 61. That is, the
opening/closing operation grip 59 begins to turn upward.
[0055] When the cover member 32 is further turned downward, after
the claw portion 65 of the hook 63 passes through the opening 43,
the hook 63 is biased by the helical torsion coil spring and then
the upper surface 65c of the claw portion 65 is engaged with the
rear edge 43a of the opening 43. Thus, the opening/closing
operation grip 59 is turned to close the cutout part 57a. At the
same time in which the under surface 65a of the claw portion 65 of
the hook 63 passes through the opening 43, the pressure receiving
piece 73 of the lever member 71 is pressed with the under surface
65a of the claw portion 65 so as to turn the lever member 71 in the
counterclockwise direction in FIG. 9B around the rotating shaft
part 72. Thus, the pressing piece 74 of the lever member 71 presses
the switching piece 70 of the detection switch 33 to move the
switching piece 70 backward. This switches the detection switch 33
into the on state to detect a state where the cover member 32 is
turned into the closing state.
[0056] Further, when the cover member 32 is turned downward as
described above, the boss 67 provided in the cover member 32
engages with the depression 44 formed at the left corner of the
recessed part 31a of the body portion 31 to position the cover
member 32 with respect to the body portion 31. In addition, when
the cover member 32 is turned downward, since the hooks 63 turns
around the supporting shaft 61 and then the claw portions 65 enter
through the openings 43 by coming the inclined surfaces 65b of the
claw portions 65 of the hooks 63 into contact with the rear edges
43a of the openings 43a as described above, it is not necessary to
grip the opening/closing operation grip 59.
[0057] As described above, in the relay conveying unit of the image
forming apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure, the hook 63 provided in the cover member 32 is
configured to engage and disengage the cover member 32 with the
body portion 31 and also to operate the detection switch 33 which
detects the opening/closing state of the cover member 32.
Accordingly, the hook 63 can serve as projections provided
separately for the engagement and the disengagement of the cover
member 32 with the body portion 31 and for the detecting the
opening/closing state of the cover member 32. Consequently, it is
possible to reduce the number of projections which obstructs an
operation of processing jammed sheet, for example, and to perform
such operations smoothly. Further, it is possible to reduce the
number of parts of the relay conveying unit 4.
[0058] Furthermore, the hook 63 is operated by a natural operation
performed by turning the cover member 32 into the opening state
with gripping the opening/closing operation grip 59. Accordingly,
it is possible to smoothly perform a series of operations of
disengaging the cover member 32 with the body portion 31 and then
detecting the opening state of the cover member 32 accompanying
with the disengagement. Still further, the lever member 71 is
configured to turn the upward and downward directions around the
bearing part 45 parallel to the supporting shaft 61 of the hook 63.
Accordingly, it is possible to smoothly transmit the motion of the
hook 63 to the turning of the lever member 71 and to turn the lever
member 71 without being loaded, causing increase of detection
accuracy of the detection switch.
[0059] Further, by interposing the lever member 71 between the hook
63 of the cover member 32 and the switching piece 70 of the
detection switch 33, it is possible to convert the downward
movement of the hook 63 into the backward movement of the switch
piece 70. Thus, it is possible to make the height of the relay
conveying unit 4 to be lowered as much as possible in the internal
sheet discharge portion 8 having a limited height and to secure a
large space above the relay conveying unit 4. Consequently, it is
possible to secure a sufficient opening angle of the cover member
32 and therefore to smoothly and easily perform an operation of
processing jammed sheet, for example. In addition, a movement
direction of the switching piece 70 may not necessarily be the
horizontal direction.
[0060] Further, if the cover member 32 is configured such that the
cover member 32 is positioned with respect to the body portion 31
using the hooks 63 without forming the boss 67, it is possible to
further reduce the number of projections provided on the lower
surface of the cover member 32 and to realize a more simple
structure.
[0061] Furthermore, the present embodiment uses the detection
switch 33 which is switched between the on state and the off state
by pressing and releasing the pressing of the reciprocally movable
switching piece 70. However, a photointerrupter, for example, can
also be used for the detection switch 33. When the photointerrupter
is used, for example, a light emitting unit and a light receiving
unit are provided to shut a movement path of the pressing piece 74
and, when the pressing piece 74 moves to a predetermined position,
a switch body is switched into the on state.
[0062] In the present embodiment, the relay conveying unit 4
arranged in the internal sheet discharge portion of the image
forming apparatus 1 has been described as a sheet conveying device.
However, the present embodiment is applicable to an image reading
device, too, which applies a configuration where a cover member is
turned into an opening/closing state.
[0063] While the present disclosure has been described with
reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to
be restricted by the embodiments. It is to be appreciated that
those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments
without departing from the scope and spirit of the present
disclosure.
* * * * *